SQE1 Legal System of England and Wales Questions

The Legal System is 14–20% of FLK1 together with constitutional and administrative law and EU law, in session 2 from January 2027. Practise original questions on courts, precedent and statutory interpretation.

Take the full timed FLK1 mock exam

170 five-option questions in two timed sessions of 85 (2 hours 33 minutes each), in the January 2027 FLK1 format, with a score by subject and an explanation for every answer.

Or try the free legal system drill
  • 24 original legal system questions with explanations
  • FLK1, session 2
  • SRA blueprint: 14–20% of FLK1, shared with Constitutional and Administrative Law and EU Law as the Legal System
Free sample · Question 1 of 3FLK1 · Legal system

Parliament passes the Schools (Admissions Reform) Act, which extends to England and Wales but states that its provisions 'apply in relation to England only'. School admissions are a devolved matter in Wales. Gwen, who lives in Cardiff, wants to rely on a new right of appeal created by the Act when her son is refused a place at a local school in Wales. Which of the following best describes Gwen's position?

What our legal system questions cover

  • The judiciary, the court hierarchy, the appeal system, jurisdiction and rights of audience
  • The doctrine of precedent and when courts are bound by earlier decisions
  • The structure of an act of Parliament and of an act of Senedd Cymru
  • Statutory interpretation: the literal, golden and mischief rules, the purposive approach, presumptions and aids
  • How legislation of Westminster and Senedd Cymru applies in England and in Wales
Line drawing of a classical court building with columns and steps, with stacked law reports in front

This list is our own summary of the subject, written for practice. The SRA publishes the full Functioning Legal Knowledge list for FLK1 in the SQE1 Assessment Specification.

Drill legal system, then sit the full paper

Take the full timed FLK1 mock exam

170 five-option questions in two timed sessions of 85 (2 hours 33 minutes each), in the January 2027 FLK1 format, with a score by subject and an explanation for every answer.

Or try the free legal system drill

Rules the questions test most

  1. The Supreme Court binds every lower court. The Court of Appeal (Civil Division) is normally bound by its own earlier decisions, subject to the exceptions in Young v Bristol Aeroplane.
  2. The literal rule gives words their ordinary meaning; the golden rule departs from it to avoid absurdity; the mischief rule asks what defect in the earlier law the act was meant to remedy; the purposive approach reads the words in light of the act’s purpose.
  3. England and Wales form a single legal jurisdiction, but some laws differ between the two territories, and the Welsh language has official status and can be used in proceedings in Wales.
  4. An act of Senedd Cymru must be within its legislative competence; a provision outside that competence is not law.

Start the free legal system drill · Full FLK1 mock exam

Common questions

What does the Legal System cover on SQE1?

The SRA groups the Legal System of England and Wales and sources of law with Constitutional and Administrative Law and EU Law as one Legal System subject, worth 14–20% of FLK1. This page covers the courts, precedent, legislation and interpretation; constitutional and administrative law has its own page.

Is Welsh law tested on SQE1?

Yes, at the level of a newly qualified solicitor: the SRA tests how legislation made by Senedd Cymru and Westminster applies in England and in Wales, and the use of the Welsh language in proceedings.

Take the full timed FLK1 mock exam

170 five-option questions in two timed sessions of 85 (2 hours 33 minutes each), in the January 2027 FLK1 format, with a score by subject and an explanation for every answer.

Or try the free legal system drill

More SQE1 subjects

Subjects, blueprint and format: SRA: SQE1 Assessment Specification (from 1 September 2026) · SRA: SQE1 Functioning Legal Knowledge blueprint (Annex 4) · SRA blog: Understanding SQE1 (24 September 2026), checked November 2026.

Game Assessment Prep is an independent practice site. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or Kaplan, the SQE assessment provider. Every question is original; none is taken from SRA or Kaplan sample questions or any SQE assessment.